Written in GLOBAL he 05/09/2023 14:16

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Tuesday (9) that the Canadian consul in Shanghai is “persona non grata” in the country. Canadian Jennifer Lynn Lalonde must leave Chinese territory by May 13.

This decision follows Canada’s decision on Monday (8) to declare “persona non grata” the Chinese consul in Toronto, Zhao Wei. The measure was announced in a statement by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly.

“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of conduct, they will be sent home.”said Melanie.

The Chinese reaction was announced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Webin at a press conference in Beijing.

“China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. Allegations of interference against China are unfounded. They are ideologically and politically motivated manipulations designed to slander and smear China. .”Wang said.

understand the mess

Canada’s decision to expel the Chinese diplomat came after reports surfaced that Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family, who live in Hong Kong, had come under pressure to question the Chinese government.

On May 2, the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reported that the Chinese intelligence agency intended to sanction Chong and members of his family for voting in February 2021 in favor of a motion condemning Beijing’s actions in the Xinjiang region in reference to accusations of ” genocide against the Uyghur minority”.

diplomatic malaise

In November 2022, during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, the President of China, Xi Jinping, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, played into a moment of diplomatic unease between the two countries, which was recorded on video.

During the informal conversation in one of the hallways of the meeting, Xi complained to Trudeau that the Canadian team had leaked the contents of a bilateral meeting between the two to the press.

During the conversation, Trudeau expressed concern about suspected Chinese interference in the Canadian election.

“Everything we were talking about had already been filtered (by the press). It’s not appropriate, it’s not how we operate. If you’re being honest, we need to communicate with mutual respect.” Xi told Trudeau through an official translator.

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Xinjiang Uyghurs

The Chinese government denies the existence of actions against the Uyghur ethnic minority in Xinjiang. There is a white paperin English, on the subject, from July 2021. Titled “Respecting and Protecting the Rights of All Ethnic Groups in Xinjiang.”

The text of the Information Office of the State Council of the Chinese government lists a summary of advances in civil, political, economic, cultural, social rights and the rights of women and children for all ethnic groups in Xinjiang , including the Uyghurs.

With information from Xinhua and CGTN